Pre-Assembled Ventilated Shingle Set

ABSTRACT

An assembly, and method for constructing the assembly, that provides a much faster and more precise shingle installation with required keyway spacing and offsets, and with built-in ventilation that improves the performance of the shingles and protects the wall assembly. Also providing a pleasing distribution of shingle widths with no apparent patterns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the fields of roofing and siding and, more particularly, is directed towards a pre-assembled panel of shingles or shakes as used in construction as a protective covering for roofs or sidewalls. All embodiments of this invention may be produced using either shingles or shakes, although both terms are not always used in describing aspects of the invention. The pre-assembled shingle set is referred to using different terms, including, a “shingle-set”, a “shingle assembly”, a “shingle-strip”, a “shingle panel”, or a “panel.”

Although shakes and shingles are usually produced from Western Red Cedar, Eastern White Cedar, or Alaskan Yellow Cedar, there are other durable rot resistant woods that can be used effectively. Additionally, various natural and synthetic materials can be used to produce shingles that would be appropriate for use with this invention. For simplicity, the terms “shingle” or “cedar shingle” will be used as representative of shingles or shakes of any composition.

While shingles are not defined by their composition, they can be defined as having a unique form and function. Shingles function as an excellent precipitation barrier by providing multiple layers of overlapping drainage planes that direct water back to the exterior surface of the roof or wall assembly. In a typical roof installation, only ⅓rd of the shingle is exposed resulting in 3 layers of shingles at any given point in the installation. Any water that leaks through joints between adjacent shingles in the top layer is redirected to the surface by shingles in the second layer. Any water that manages to penetrate the top two layers is redirected to the surface of the assembly by the third layer. For shingles to provide this highly weatherproof barrier, it is important that joints between shingles, or keyways, in each layer, are offset horizontally from the keyways in the other two layers.

In comparison, lap siding is not nearly as weatherproof as a proper shingle installation and could never be used for roofing. End joints between adjacent sections of lap siding boards must be sealed to prevent leaks because there is no underlying course to redirect water back to the surface. Sealing joints between long lengths of siding is difficult because the joints expand and contract significantly with changes in temperature and humidity. Lap siding relies on the housewrap, or water resistive barrier (WRB), to function as a drainage plane for precipitation that leaks past the siding.

While cedar shingles provide a superior ability to shed precipitation, they also are considered to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing solutions for roofing and siding. Cedar shingles have been used for hundreds of years as a premium roofing and siding material, and have a proven history of durability and superior weatherproofing when properly installed. The random widths and natural variations of cedar shingles provide character and detail for flat surfaces, and the characteristics of the detail can be varied considerably by the size, exposure, and type of shingles, as well as by how the shingles are finished; either painted, stained, bleached or natural.

Cedar shingles also contribute to the energy efficiency of the structure. Tests have shown that, in hot weather, sheathing under cedar shingles is up to 40° F. cooler than sheathing under asphalt/fiberglass shingles, which can reduce cooling costs significantly. During cold weather, cedar shingles, because of their low density, provide better insulation than other types of roofing and siding materials. More importantly, well-ventilated dry insulation performs much better that wet insulation.

Although there are many advantages to cedar shingles when compared to other types of siding and roofing, there are significant problems associated with cedar shingle installation.

One of the most significant problems with conventional cedar shingle installation is that it is a very tedious and time-consuming process that requires skilled labor. Consequently, installation cost is high, and it is often difficult to find installers with adequate skills and experience. While typical 3-tab asphalt and composite shingles are installed as identical 36″ wide strips, using a simple process for offsetting each course, conventional cedar shingles are installed individually, with random widths ranging from about 3½″ to 9″. Multiple shingle widths, complicate the installation process, but are a necessary result of the production process for efficient recovery of raw material.

Guidelines and building codes for the installation of cedar shingles require a space or keyway between adjacent kiln dried shingles to allow for expansion of the shingles when they become wet. The keyways must be accurately and consistently sized for both function and appearance. Keyways that are too narrow will not allow shingles to expand enough when they become saturated, which will cause the shingles to buckle.

Additionally, according to generally accepted guidelines and building codes, keyways in each course must be horizontally offset from keyways in the previous 2 courses for roofing, and in the previous course for siding. The required minimum offset distance is 1 ½″. Shorter offset distances will result in leaks when wind driven precipitation is blown sideways between shingles to nearby keyway locations. Maintaining proper keyway widths, and adhering to keyway offset requirements is tedious and time consuming. Proper installation requires spending a significant amount of time choosing the right shingle from bundles of random width shingles, as well as cutting shingles to a required width to insure that each keyway joint is properly offset from the joints in the previous course(s). Often, installers do not completely adhere to the codes, and installations are compromised. Shingle manufacturers indicate that nearly all warranty claims are the direct result of improper installation.

Even when properly installed, cedar shingle installations present other problems that are caused by moisture trapped between shingle layers, and between the shingle assembly and the sheathing.

In a typical conventional cedar shingle installation, water is driven between overlapping shingles or courses by wind blown precipitation and drawn into the assembly by capillary action. Water trapped between two layers of wood requires a long time to dry and often results in decay if the moisture is sustained for a long enough period of time. It is well-known that wood stacked on wood without a breather spacer, and exposed to the weather, will result in decay. Also, as moisture is absorbed through the back of the shingles, it can cause the paint or stain on the front face of the shingle to fail.

Water trapped between shingle layers can also cause shingles to “cup” when the outer face of the shingle dries and shrinks while the back of the shingle is still wet and expanded. This problem is most pronounced when the saturated shingle assembly is exposed to direct sunlight.

When shingle layers are stacked tight against each other, moisture can soak through the entire assembly and become trapped between the shingle assembly and the underlayment (roofs) or housewrap (sidewalls). As with water trapped between courses, if the assembly has no ventilation to promote drying, prolonged moisture between the shingle assembly and the structure can result in decay. Additionally, according to some studies, the natural extractives in cedar can degrade the water repellency of some vapor permeable housewraps, allowing water to pass through the housewrap to the sheathing. It is common knowledge that cedar shingle installations provided significantly greater service life before the advent of waterproof housewraps and plywood sheathing. Cedar shingles roofs installed over spaced board sheathing, without underlayment, allowed the shingles assembly to dry to an interior ventilated attic space, as well as to the exterior. These more ventilated installations often performed well for over 30 years. More recent installations installed over solid sheet sheathing and roofing underlayment, without ventilation, typically need to be replaced in less than 10 years. A common practice of installing felt layers between courses, to prevent leaks when keyway joints are not properly offset, compounds the trapped moisture problem, causing even more rapid decay.

A more critical problem caused by moisture trapped in and behind a conventional cedar shingle assembly is often referred to as “solar vapor drive.” Solar vapor drive can promote fungal decay and mold growth not just in the shingle assembly, but within the underlying wall structure. When cedar shingles in a sidewall installation become saturated with moisture from wind blown precipitation, capillary action, and high humidity, and when the saturated shingles are layered tight against each other and tight against the housewrap, the moisture in the assembly can be driven through the vapor permeable housewrap into the wall in the form of pressurized water vapor created by solar radiation. Once inside the wall structure, the vapor cools and condenses. Solar vapor drive functions much like a pump, forcing more moisture into the wall structure whenever conditions allow. Once inside the wall assembly, the moisture is contained by the housewrap or WRB, and any internal vapor barriers. A wall assembly that is subject to solar vapor drive can result in a significant level of mold and fungal decay within the wall in a relatively short period of time. If a structure is otherwise maintained, the rate of moisture infiltration from solar vapor drive often will determine the life of the structure.

Recognizing the extent of problems caused by leaky siding and solar vapor drive, industry professionals have developed “rain-screen” installation methods as a solution. The rain-screen concept has been adapted as a requirement of some sustainable building programs as well as some local building codes. A rain-screen installation incorporates a means to create an air space between the siding material and the sheathing. This gap provides a drainage plane for leaky sidings, and, when properly ventilated, also serves to depressurize solar vapor drive.

One problem with rain-screen installations is that they are difficult to ventilate.

Instructions to provide screened vents at the top and bottom of walls and above and below windows are often ignored by builders because it is difficult to create the vents without significantly compromising the appearance of the wall. Building screened vents, as well as building out door and window jambs to accommodate the additional wall thickness, complicates the siding installation process and increases cost.

An unventilated rain-screen installation solves some problems, but the unventilated dead air space between the siding and the sheathing can cause another type of moisture problem. Hot humid air that migrates into this space during the day will condense as temperatures drop, typically in the evening. This dead air space can generate moisture from condensation on a daily basis, even if there is no precipitation. As with moisture from other sources, fungal decay can result if the moist conditions are prolonged.

Several products have been developed to make the installation of cedar shingles less tedious and time consuming. A number of shingle panels have been patented and/or marketed as a means to install a group of shingles at one time. These concepts generally fall into three categories.

The first category includes panels comprised of a veneer of shingle segments, representing the exposed butt section of the shingles, attached to a plywood or a solid wood backer board, with the backer board fully, or nearly fully, containing the shingle segments. This type of panel provides a cedar shingle “look”, but there are no shingles in the assembly, and the panels do not install as shingles. These products install as a lap siding, with a relatively small overlap, and do not provide the higher level of performance of a proper shingle installation. They are more prone to leaks, and could never be used as roofing.

Because this type of panel installs as a lap siding, with horizontal lap joints, it must be installed at one fixed exposure (the height of each course). Unlike shingles, the exposure cannot be modified or “cheated” during installation to adjust the relationship of courses with other elements such as window sills, trim and frieze boards, or to align with such elements when they are not level or parallel to each other.

Shingle segments in this type of panel cannot be back primed to improve the performance of the finish because they are attached to the backer board. They also cannot expand and contract independently of the backer board, and the shingle segments are prone to delaminating.

Still another disadvantage of this type of panel is that it depends on a special overlapping edge joint to connect side-by-side panels in a course. Because panels cannot be properly joined without this special lap joint, partial panels cannot be reused, resulting in a high percentage of waste.

The alignment of keyways with this type of panel is irrelevant because these panels do not function as shingles. The top and bottom edges of the panels overlap slightly to enable drainage from one panel course to the next, but the assembly does not function as shingles with multiple layers of drainage plains. The horizontal and vertical joints between panels have a relatively small overlap, and a much greater potential to leak than conventionally installed shingles. For this reason, these panels can only be used for sidewalls, and not for roofs.

The second category of existing shingle panels includes shingle elements that may be up to full size, but still do not function as shingles because they are attached to a backer board. The backer board may be plywood or solid wood, and extends the full width of the panel. The lower portion of the shingles extends past the bottom edge of the backer-board to overlap the previous course. As with the first category of panels above, these products install as a lap siding, and do not provide the higher level of performance that a shingle installation provides. They are more prone to leaks, and could never be used as roofing. Because they install as a lap siding, not as shingles, these products have many of the same problems outlined above for panels with full backer-boards.

In the third type of panel, shingles are attached to a board that extends the full width of the panel at the top of the shingles on the front side. The board is relatively thin and narrow because it remains in place between courses. However, the board is thick enough that it eliminates the bowed shape that shingles normally assume, from butt to tip, when they span between the previous course and the sheathing. This bowed shape provides a spring like tension that helps shingles stay flush against the previous course, and eliminates gaps between courses. With this type of panel, shingles don't lay flat and flush on the previous course. Because of the board between courses, a space is created between the layers of shingles. This space allows wind blown precipitation to move sideways between layers where it can access underlying keyways and pass through to the sheathing. Again, as with the other panels, this type of panel is less weatherproof than conventionally installed shingles and cannot be used for roofs.

In addition, because this panel is joined only with one thin board attached to the thin end of the shingles, this panel is relatively fragile. Shingles can be easily damaged or knocked out of alignment. Because of its lack of strength, the panel is necessarily limited to a relatively short width, which is too short to provide sufficient keyway offsets over multiple courses and eliminate diagonal patterning. Following the instructions for the installation of this product results in strong diagonal stair step patterns throughout the installation, as well as keyway placement that does not meet building code requirements.

To summarize, all of the panel options in the three categories above intend to provide a faster cedar shingle installation, yet while some may install faster, none of them provide an actual conventional shingle installation, or an installation that is comparable to the performance of an actual shingle installation. In each case, attaching the shingles to a board or strip either converts the installation from a shingle installation to a less weatherproof lap siding installation, or it significantly impairs the function and appearance of the installation as shingles. None of the above options meet well established cedar shingle code requirements, none can be used where cedar shingles are specified in building plans, and none of the above options can be specified for roofing.

If the boards in the panels reviewed above were reduced in thickness to the point where they no longer compromised the function of the shingles, replacing the boards with thin flexible bonding strips as in some prior art (Smith, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 1,467,510), then the panels would not be sufficiently rigid to form and maintain a panel of aligned shingles with the required keyway spaces between shingles. The panels would not maintain the alignment of shingles during normal installation and handling, keyway spaces would deform, and the butts would not form a straight line when installed. A bonding strip sufficiently rigid to maintain the position of shingles and keyway spaces would not allow the shingles to expand and contract normally.

A fourth type of shingle panel is one previously developed by this inventor (U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,256,185 B2, and 8,347,578 B2) and assigned to Ecoshel, Inc. The shingles in this panel were held together as a panel using four bonding strips, two on the front and two on the back. The lower bonding strip on the front was attached to removable keyway spacers and was removed, along with the spacers, after installation. The keyway spacers maintained a consistent keyway space during panel assembly, and served as a structural element that prevented the panel from deforming during handling and installation. With the keyway spacers removed, the shingles could expand and contract as needed. Unlike the other types of panels discussed above, the full size shingles in this panel were not attached to a backer-board, or a rigid strip, so they did function as conventional individual shingles, and could be used for roofing as well as siding. Essentially this panel was a system for providing a faster, and code-perfect installation of conventional full size cedar shingles that followed all standards and codes for cedar shingles, including keyway widths, keyway offsets, and nailing requirements. Once the inter-shingle spacers were removed the result was an authentic, and well executed, conventional cedar shingle installation.

However, there were problems with this panel configuration discovered in practice, as follows:

The removable front strip, which was necessarily installed with removable adhesive, sometimes detached from the shingles during handling and installation, which caused the panel to deform or fall apart. Using a stronger adhesive pulled out wood fibers when the strip was removed, compromising the appearance.

The same removable strip sometimes detached from the spacers, failing to pull the spacers out of the keyways, and requiring that individual spacers be removed one at a time by hand.

The upper front face of the shingles, where another bonding strip was attached, could not be pre-finished, and this unfinished section, the strip, was visible through the keyway spaces of the next course.

The cost of production to install 4 bonding strips, 2 of them printed, was relatively high, and the removable strips and spacers created a significant volume of waste at the job site.

A more recent version of this panel, developed and tested by this inventor, used a keyway spacer that allowed the shingles to expand and contract, so the spacer could remain in the installed shingle strip assembly, rather than being removed after installation. These spacers were held in position during assembly by slots punched in the front surface of the shingles that accepted tabs on the spacers. Two bonding strips installed across the back of the shingles, one at the top, and one in the middle, connected the shingles to each other and held the spacers in place between shingles. The spacers and the bonding strip were substantially contained within the plane of the shingles, so the resulting installation functioned as conventionally installed shingles. However, testing this more recent shingle assembly revealed significant structural problems.

The keyway spacer was held in position by a small tab that engaged a shallow slot punched in the front face of the shingles. The spacer often disengaged from the slots when the shingles expanded, or when the joint was bowed, during typical handling for manufacturing, packaging, and installation. When the spacers detached, the bonding strip across the back of the assembly prevented the panel from completely falling apart, but breaks at the shingle joints deformed the panel causing installation problems. Broken panels were difficult to handle and could not be easily repaired in the field. Installing panels with broken joints resulted in uneven keyway spacing, misalignment of shingle butts, and a crooked installation. When spacers disengaged from the punched slots, they protruded beyond the plane of the shingles, which prevented overlapping panels from laying flat, creating a gap between courses that compromised appearance, as well as the weatherproofing performance of the installation. The result was an installation that did not consistently perform as well as a proper conventional cedar shingle installation. The goal of achieving a faster more precise installation was compromised by the failure of the panel structure. The time savings of the prefabricated system was substantially offset by the additional time required to install deformed panels, and by the cost of replacing irreparable broken panels.

The bonding layers of this panel assembly caused additional problems. When the shingles expanded as moisture content increased, a normal event, the bonding layers installed across the width of the panel on the back, restricted expansion of the shingle widths across the back surface, which caused “pillowing”. As the front of the shingles expanded across the width of the shingles, without restriction, the shingles would deform into a convex shape. The bonding layers also caused problems with pre-finishing. When the shingles were painted front and back, as is normally required for best performance, the finish applied on top of the bonding layers could not be absorbed by the wood, and consequently required a very long time to dry/cure. This is an unacceptable problem for a high volume pre-finishing operation because of the excessive drying space required.

As with the original patented panel by this inventor, this more recent version used a method for offsetting keyways over 2 courses that required a relatively long panel length that would be too difficult to produce, ship, handle, and install. As such, the pattern was divided into two adjacent panels, an “A” panel and a “B” panel, and the installer was required to alternate between these 2 different panel configurations during installation. Maintaining the A-B-A-B-A . . . installation pattern, required unwavering diligence by the installer, especially when keeping track of partial panel “cut-offs”, and where they were installed. A lapse in attention by the installer could result in pattern installation problems that might not be detected until after additional courses had been installed, requiring the removal of installed product to correct the problem.

There were two additional less critical problems with the alternating panel pattern. Because it was based on a single long pattern formed by the installation of 2 shorter adjacent panels, and with only one offset location in the full pattern length for each subsequent course, the installation produced a detectable repeating pattern. The installation system also required two separate guide number rulers, upper and lower, with indicators that were offset rather than aligned. This somewhat complicated installation process sometimes confused installers, resulting in errors that were compounded as the installation continued.

Another more recent version of the panel tested by this inventor used the same permanently installed spacer, but with an installation pattern that was fully contained within one shorter panel, eliminating the requirement to install an alternating pattern of “A” and “B” panels. While installation was simplified, this panel version did not provide the minimum required keyway offset of 1.5″ from course to course. It also did not fully achieve keyway offsets between the first and third courses as required by code for roofing installations. This panel was constructed in the same manner as the previous version of the product, and had the same structural problems reviewed above.

Previously patented or tested versions of pre-assembled shingle panels developed by this inventor have included a ventilation system in the form of beads or ridges installed on the back of the shingles, creating a gap between courses, but these versions did not include a consistent means to prevent moisture from moving sideways in this gap to underlying keyway joints. While the ventilation would help prevent cupping and decay, without consistently blocking moisture from entering underlying keyways, the potential for leaks increased.

Thus, there is a need in the art for a pre-assembled set of shingles (the “shingle set”), together with an installation system that meets one or more of the following criteria:

will enable a much more rapid installation of shingles as compared to the conventional method of installing shingles one at a time;

will not compromise the function and performance of the individual shingles in the set as compared to individual shingles properly installed in a conventional manner, and as such, can be used for projects where shingles are specified in architectural plans;

will be such that persons with little or no particular knowledge, relevant experience, or skill, can feasibly install the product and achieve results of the highest quality;

will be such that keyways are of a precise and consistent width;

will be such that the method of securing the shingles to each other allows the shingles to expand and contract normally;

will include markings or guides to indicate the proper placement of each subsequent shingle set during installation, as necessary to maintain a pattern of proper keyway offsets;

will result in keyway offsets of at least 1½″ over any 3 consecutive courses, by properly registering each course with the previous course using guide marks on the assembly;

will include shingles of multiple widths and will result in a balanced distribution of various shingle widths and no apparent repetitive patterns.

will be interconnected in a manner that does not add substantial thickness to the shingles and will not affect the position of the shingles or how the shingles lay with respect to each other and the underlying sheathing, as compared to a conventional individual shingle installation, thus maintaining function and performance in line with conventionally installed shingles;

will be interconnected in a manner that allows the set to be cut with a knife rather than a saw, for a more rapid and practical installation process, with sections of the assembly that are cut off reused as partial panels;

will be manufactured such that the method of securing shingles in position in the set will provide measures to prevent shingles from being knocked out of alignment or easily damaged during shipping, handling, or installation. (i.e., the shingle set will be durable enough that it can be handled in a manner typical of similar construction products without damage);

will be such that an integral ventilation system further enhances the performance of the shingles;

will be such that an integral ventilation system prevents moisture from infiltrating the wall assembly.

Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved shingle apparatus and system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The various features, aspects and embodiments of the present invention cooperatively provide a pre-assembled set of shingles, integrated with a unique installation system, that results in an authentic perfected conventional cedar shingle installation with the added benefits of integral ventilation, and a fast and easy installation process that provides substantially uniform and equal keyway spaces, and proper keyway offsets, automatically. Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention alleviate the moisture related damage that can result from improper shingle installation, unventilated shingle installation, or the use of inferior ventilation products.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the shingles are connected to each other, not to a backer board or bonding layer. When installed, they function as full size shingles, not as panels with a shingle “look”. The installation system provides full triple layer coverage and the same superior weatherproofing as conventional full size shingles, properly installed. Other siding products, such as shingle panels and clapboards, do not have sufficient overlaps to prevent leaks. This is why they are not adequate in roofing applications. However, in extreme weather, wall coverings must perform as well as roof coverings to prevent damage from wind driven precipitation. Essentially, wind can replace gravity as a force that drives moisture inward through the layer(s) of protective covering.

Cedar shingles provide a highly weatherproof barrier when properly installed. Proper installation means that the keyways (the joints between adjacent shingles) must be offset from the keyways in the next two courses above and below the current course. The minimum offset imposed by building codes for adjacent courses is 1½ inches. Meeting this requirement, when installing shingles conventionally, is a very tedious and time consuming process. Consequently, this code requirement is often ignored or compromised, resulting in leaks.

Another advantage of the various embodiments of the present invention is that they operate to reduce the work involved in the shingle installation process. The system is carefully calculated to provide optimal keyway offsets, and a well-balanced appearance of multiple shingle widths, automatically. Installation is a simple process of aligning each new course with guide marks on the previous course. Keyways will be offset by at least the minimum required distance over 3 courses, as required for roofing, and there will be no apparent patterns, and no clusters of narrow or wide shingles.

The shingles in the various embodiments of the present invention are attached to each other, not to a backer board. This allows for a true shingle installation with full triple layer overlaps for superior weatherproofing. Unlike pre-assembled shingle panels with a backer board, there are no special side lap panel joints that can be a source of leaks, and that result in wasted cut-off sections. Also unlike shingle panels, the various embodiments of the present invention allow the proper use of flashing between the shingle layers to re-direct water to the exterior. Because there is no backer board, the shingle strips in embodiments of the present invention can be cut with a knife, and details such as corners, hips and ridges are handled just as with conventional shingles. There are no additional proprietary components that need to be ordered and installed to create these details.

In addition to superior weatherproofing and much faster installation, the pre-assembled shingle strips also provide enhanced ventilation. Ventilation ridges on the back of the shingles provide a slight space between shingles, and between shingles and the housewrap. These ridges will create numerous airways that run from the backside of the shingles, between shingle layers to the exterior, as distinct from an airspace contained behind multiple layers of shingles. These airways enable airflow, which promotes drying. The ridges will also create a capillary break between shingle layers and between shingles and the housewrap, preventing exterior moisture from soaking inward toward the building sheathing. The small size, consistent height, and vertical orientation of the ridges will also function as baffles that prevent windblown precipitation from moving laterally between shingle layers and passing through hidden offset keyway openings. This built-in ventilation prevents moisture related mold and decay fungi in several ways as follows:

Prevents water from being driven into the wall by solar vapor drive by providing ventilation throughout the shingle assembly that enables pressurized water vapor to vent to more easily to the exterior than through the vapor permeable housewrap.

Provides a capillary break between shingle layers that helps isolate moisture to the top layer, and prevents moisture from being drawn into the wall by capillary action. Allows saturated shingles to dry on both sides, which reduces shingle cupping.

Provides an air space between the shingle assembly and the housewrap or sheathing that meets rain-screen installation specifications, and works with the ventilation throughout the shingle assembly to depressurize solar vapor drive.

Prevents contact between the housewrap and extractives in cedar shingles, which may degrade the water repellency of some housewraps.

Creates baffles that prevent windblown precipitation from moving sideways between shingles to underlying keyway locations.

Eliminates the need for other problematic ventilation or rain-screen systems.

Another advantage of the various embodiments of the present invention is that they provide ventilation to the exterior throughout the entire surface. Other systems, which use lath or mesh between the shingles and the sheathing, create an air space, not ventilation. If this airspace is not properly ventilated it will create an additional source of moisture as warm humid air cools and condenses, or is pressurized and diffuses through the vapor permeable housewrap. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to adequately ventilate an airspace system. Continuous screened vents are required at the top and bottom edges of the installation, and above and below all windows, chimneys, dormers, etc. Adding these vents can make exterior trim work awkward and unattractive. In addition, the additional thickness of the airspace requires the use of jamb and sill extensions on windows and doors.

Independent of the installation system that manages the keyway positions, another aspect of the invention is that the shingle set provided is not mounted to a board, which maintains the superior functional performance of a shingle. The inter-shingle clips are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles to maintain true shingle performance. The spring tension of the clips keeps the clips engaged in the shingle slots even as the shingles expand and contract, and as the panel is bowed or flexed in normal handling for installation. As the clips remain fully engaged with each pair of shingles, the shingle panel will be somewhat flexible in the front to back direction, but will be entirely rigid top to bottom, maintaining the butts of shingles along a straight line when installed. The inter-shingle clips of the present invention provide sufficient structural integrity for the panelized shingle set, without the use of backer boards or bonding layers, which compromise the function and durability of the shingle installation. The shingle panel, assembled only with inter-shingle clips, will withstand the normal handling encountered in production, packaging, shipping, and installation. A panelized shingle assembly produced using only clips also significantly reduces the cost of production, eliminating the need for assembly line jigs and equipment, multiple assembly positions, including glue stations, and raw materials that would be used to form bonding layers.

These and other features, aspects, advantages and embodiments of the present invention are better understood by reviewing that attached figures and the accompanying description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1-A is a conceptual diagram illustrating the front-side of a shingle panel, in this configuration, showing seven shingles (1), and two rows of six inter-shingle clips, center clips (2), and upper clips (3). The drawing also shows two horizontal rows of vertically aligned keyway indicators to be used for registering the position of the next course. One row of indicators is close to the top of the shingles and includes a measurement reference number to the right of the indicators (4). The second row of indicators is located near the center of the panel (5). The panel is installed using two nails per shingle (6), following the same fastening conventions as specified by building codes for individual shingles.

FIGS. 1-B, and 1-C, are drawings of shingle panels that are identical to FIG. 1-A, except for variations in the shingle pattern. All three shingle patterns are interchangeable and use the same indicators in the same position.

FIG. 2-A shows a typical installed section with keyway joints offset over 3 courses. Panels in the second course are registered with the 12″ indicators in the first course. Panels in the third course are registered with the 12″ indicators in the second course. All panels in this assembly are of the same pattern shown in FIG. 1-A.

FIG. 2-B shows a typical installed section with keyway joints offset over 3 courses. Panels in the second course are registered with the 24″ indicators in the first course. Panels in the third course are registered with the 24″ indicators in the second course. All panels in this assembly are of the same pattern shown in FIG. 1-A.

FIG. 3-A is the same as FIG. 2-A, except the assembly includes panels of all three shingle panel patterns, randomly distributed.

FIG. 3-B is the same as FIG. 2-B, except the assembly includes panels of all three shingle panel patterns, randomly distributed.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps involved in installing the shingle panels with keyway offsets over 3 courses.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back view of a shingle illustrating the ventilation ridges.

FIG. 6-A is a cross section of the spacer from a previous shingle panel developed and tested by this inventor. The spacer allows shingles to expand and contract so does not need to be removed after installation.

FIG. 6-B is a cross section of the same spacer shown in FIG. 6A, as installed during assembly, between two side-by-side shingles (1), with the spacer and shingles held in place by a bonding strip (2) that extends across the width of the panel on the back, and with the spacer engaging a shallow slot (3) in each shingle.

FIG. 6-C is a cross section of the same spacer shown in FIG. 6A that illustrates how the spacer is deformed as the shingles expand and compress the spacer, causing the spacer to disengage from the shingles.

FIG. 6-D is a cross section of the same shown in FIG. 6A that illustrates how the spacer is deformed as the panel is bowed, causing the spacer to disengage from the shingles.

FIG. 7-A is a view in perspective of one embodiment of an inter-shingle connector or clip, a component of the present invention. The clip is made from a spring like flexible material, and is designed to snap into place with spring tension when connected to shingles.

FIG. 7-B is a cross section of the inter-shingle clip of the present invention, showing the uninstalled shape that provides the spring tension when installed. The clip is installed between two shingles with the base (1) against the back of the shingles, the top (2) against the front of the shingles, and the tabs (3) engaged in slots on the front and back of the shingles. The center section of the clip (4) maintains a consistent keyway space between shingles and allows the shingles to expand and contract.

FIG. 7-C is an illustration of the inter-shingle clip of the present invention from the front.

FIG. 7-D shows the inter-shingle clip and a cross section of two adjacent shingles (1) showing the slots (2) on the front and back of the shingles that will receive the clip tabs when the clip and the shingles are assembled.

FIG. 7-E is the same inter-shingle clip shown above, attached to a pair of side-by-side shingles, with the clip tabs engaged in slots on the front and back of each shingle.

FIG. 7-F is the same inter-shingle clip shown above, attached to a pair of side-by-side shingles, with the clip tabs engaged in slots on the front and back of each shingle. The clip connects the shingles without the use of a bonding strip, and remains connected as the shingles expand and compress the clip.

FIG. 7-G is the same inter-shingle clip shown above, attached to a pair of side-by-side shingles, with the clip tabs engaged in slots on the front and back of each shingle. The clip connects the shingles without the use of a bonding strip, and remains connected as the panel is bowed.

FIG. 8 shows the pair of inter-shingle clips used to connect an adjacent pair of shingles in the shingle assembly. The “Upper” clip (1) connects the shingles closer to the tip of the tapered shingles and is designed for a reduced shingle thickness. The “Center” clip (2) connects the two adjacent shingles near the center of the shingle height, above the maximum exposure height, and is designed to accommodate the thickness of the shingles at that point.

FIG. 9 shows the “Center” clip for an alternative inter-shingle clip design for the present invention, that provides greater panel strength by using angled top and bottom tabs (1) that install in angled shingle slots.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as well as features and aspects thereof, is directed towards providing a shingle assembly to aid in the proper installation of shingles and includes a method for installation of the shingles. In general, embodiments of the invention provide panels of shingles and assembly guides that when followed, result in the installation of shingles that meet keyway space requirements and keyway offset requirements, and also provide an aesthetically pleasing distribution of the shingles. Embodiments of the invention also enable a much faster installation, with greater precision than is typically achieved in conventional installation, and include a built-in ventilation system that improves the performance of the shingles.

Turning now to the figures in which like labels refer to like elements through the several views, various features, aspects and embodiments of the present invention are described.

FIG. 1-A is a conceptual diagram illustrating the front-side of a shingle panel or shingle-strip, in this embodiment, showing seven shingles (1), a center row of six inter-shingle clips (2), and an upper row of six inter-shingle clips (3). The shingles in this assembly are not connected to each other by any means. Testing has shown that this assembly does not break or fail in any manner when subjected to normal handling associated with manufacturing, packaging, and installation. The panel will flex or bow a limited amount about the keyway axes, each joint providing gradually increasing resistance to excessive bowing, as is necessary to distribute forces encountered in typical handling, but the panel does not break, and the butt line of the shingles installs as a straight line without attention to that alignment by the installer. The clips do not disengage when the shingles expand and contract, or when the panel assembly is normally bowed or flexed. The shingles are not connected to each other by any other means such as backer boards or bonding strips, and thus perform as properly installed conventional shingles.

FIG. 1-A also shows two horizontal rows of keyway indicators to be used for registering the position of the next course. One row of indicators is close to the top of the shingles and includes a measurement reference number to the right of the indicators (4). The second row of indicators (5) is located near the center of the panel. The upper and lower indicators are aligned. The indicators are in the same position on every panel, and don't need to include numbers, as long as there is a means to differentiate between them such as color coding, geometric shapes, etc. The shingle panel is mounted to the wall or roof using two nails (6) per shingle, following the same fastening conventions as specified by codes for individual shingles.

FIGS. 1-B, and 1-C, are drawings of shingle panels that are identical to FIG. 1-A, except for variations in the shingle pattern. All three shingle patterns are interchangeable and use the same indicators in the same position. The installer does not need to be aware of shingle pattern variations. These pattern variations enable more efficient shingle inventory management, and further a random installation. Pattern variations are intermittently dispersed when the product is packed in cartons for delivery.

FIG. 2-A shows a typical installed section with keyway joints offset over 3 courses. The installation system is based on a matrix and may be defined and executed in numerous ways, but the embodiment shown here uses one of the simplest installation methods. Install the first course as a row of adjacent panels. Install the panels with a keyway between panels that is approximately the same width as the keyways between shingles in the panel. Panels are installed using two nails per shingle, just as with conventional individual shingles.

Start the next course anywhere, typically in the middle and working toward the corners. Align either the left or the right edge of the first panel in the next course with either of the two indicators on the panels in the previous course. Adjust the height of the panel to achieve the desired exposure. The exposure is defined as the height of the exposed shingle in the previous course. In FIG. 2-A, the left edge of the first panel in the second course is aligned with the 12″ indicator in the previous course, as are all subsequent panels in this course. The indicator represents the width of the keyway, so the left edge of the panel is aligned with the right edge of the indicator. Continue installing adjacent panels to the left and right, with a keyway space between panels. If the course crosses a door or window opening, register the first panel on the other side of the obstruction to the same indicator, and then continue installing panels from that point. If a course ends with a very narrow shingle segment, replace the last two shingles with a wider shingle from panel cut offs. Individual shingles are easily removed from the panel scraps. All other aspects of the installation such as inside and outside corners, are handled just as with conventional shingles. For the third course in FIG. 2-A, the left edge of the first panel is aligned with the right edge of the 12″ indicator in the second course. Following the installation process insures that all joints are offset at least 1½″ over 3 courses, as required by code for roof installations. All panels in this assembly are of the same pattern shown in FIG. 1-A.

FIG. 2-B shows a second example of a typical installed section with keyway joints offset over 3 courses. The left edge of the first panel in the second course is aligned with the right edge of the 24″ indicators in the first course. The right edge of the first panel in the third course is aligned with the left edge of the 24″ indicators in the second course. Following the installation process insures that all joints are offset 1½″ over 3 courses, as required by code for roof installations. All panels in this assembly are of the same pattern shown in FIG. 1-A.

FIG. 3-A is the same as FIG. 2-A, except the assembly includes panels of all three patterns, FIG. 1-A, FIG. 1-B, and FIG. 1-C, randomly distributed.

FIG. 3-B is the same as FIG. 2-B, except the assembly includes panels of all three patterns, FIG. 1-A, FIG. 1-B, and FIG. 1-C, distributed randomly.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps involved in installing the shingle panels for proper keyway offset over any 3 consecutive courses.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back of a shingle illustrating the ventilation ridges. The ridges can be formed using a variety of techniques and products and the present invention is not limited to any particular method, although the described methods may in and of themselves be considered as novel. In an exemplary embodiment, the ridges are created from beads of hot melt adhesive. The ridges or beads on the back of the shingles should be close to one tenth of an inch in height. A 0.010″ height is adequate for providing a rain-screen installation with adequate ventilation to depressurize solar vapor drive, and meets LEED specified rain-screen space requirements. It is also sufficient to provide a capillary break between successive courses that will work to isolate moisture to the top layer of shingles and will prevent trapped moisture between layers that can promote cupping and decay. The frequency of the ridges should be about one ridge every 1½″ of shingle width to maintain the gap between shingles, and a gap between shingles and the housewrap or sheathing even with slight natural distortions in the shingles. A ridge should be placed about ¾″ from both side edges of every shingle to function as a baffle that will prevent windblown precipitation from moving sideways between courses to underlying keyway locations.

FIG. 7-A is a view in perspective of an inter-shingle connector or clip, a component of the present invention. This embodiment of the clip is made from a spring like flexible material, and is designed to snap into place with spring tension when connected to a pair of adjacent shingles. If manufactured from plastic, the clip can be produced as a continuous extrusion cut to required lengths, or it could be injection molded. Prototypes of the clip have been produced using 3D printing processes.

FIG. 7-B is a cross section of the above inter-shingle clip, showing an uninstalled shape that provides the spring tension when installed. The clip is installed between two shingles with the base (1) against the back of the shingles, the top (2) against the front of the shingles, and the tabs (3) engaged in slots on the front and back of the shingles. The center section of the clip (4) maintains a consistent keyway space between shingles and allows the shingles to expand and contract.

FIG. 7-C is an illustration of the above inter-shingle clip from the front.

FIG. 7-D shows the above inter-shingle clip and a cross section of two side-by-side shingles (1) showing the slots (2) on the front and back of the shingles that will receive the clip tabs when the clip and the shingles are assembled.

FIG. 7-E is the inter-shingle clip shown above, attached to a pair of side-by-side shingles, with the clip tabs engaged in slots on the front and back of each shingle.

FIG. 7-F is the inter-shingle clip shown above, attached to a pair of side-by-side shingles, with the clip tabs engaged in slots on the front and back of each shingle. The clip connects the shingles without the use of a bonding strip, and remains connected as the shingles expand, compressing the clip.

FIG. 7-G is the inter-shingle clip shown above, attached to a pair of side-by-side shingles, with the clip tabs engaged in slots on the front and back of each shingle. The clip connects the shingles without the use of a bonding strip, and remains connected as the panel is bowed about the keyway axes.

FIG. 8 shows the pair of inter-shingle clips used to connect an adjacent pair of shingles in the shingle assembly. The “Upper” clip (1) connects the shingles closer to the tip of the tapered shingles and is designed for a reduced shingle thickness. The “Center” clip (2) connects the two adjacent shingles near the center of the shingle height, above the maximum exposure height, and is designed to accommodate the thickness of the shingles at that point.

FIG. 9 shows the “Center” clip for an alternative inter-shingle clip design that provides greater panel strength by using angled top and bottom tabs (1) that install in angled shingle slots. Additionally, the angled slots in the shingles for this clip will be less likely to cause the shingles to split when the clips are installed on vertical grain shingles.

There are numerous alternative connector designs that would achieve the objectives of this invention. Connectors could attach to the shingles by other mechanical means, or could be bonded to the shingles with adhesives, while still providing adequate structural integrity to maintain consistent keyway spacing and shingle alignment during handling and installation without incorporating a bonding layer, which would compromise the shingle assembly performance compared to a conventional individual shingle installation.

Because the process described here provides an authentic shingle installation, that meets all code requirements and performance standards for conventional shingle installation, this invention can be used for projects where shingles are specified in the architectural plans. All other installation topics not discussed here should be performed in accordance with all of the same guidelines and code requirements established for conventional cedar shingle installation. For instance, sheathing, building wrap, flashing, and details such as doubling the first course, hips, ridges, corners, etc., are all handled the same way as for conventional installation of individual shingles.

It should be appreciated that the present invention may also be applied in embodiments in which the width of the panel, or the height of the shingles may vary. For instance, typical shingle heights are 14, 16, 18, and 24 inches. For shakes, typical heights are 18 and 24 inches. In one embodiment of the invention, the panel may use various heights in the same panel to create a staggered look. Panels may also be comprised of custom shingle shapes or patterns such as waves, fish scale shapes, diamond patterns, etc. Other embodiments may utilize different types of spacers or clips between the shingles as a structural element, and to ensure that the shingles are parallel to each other.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise”, “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements, or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

The present invention has been described using detailed descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Some embodiments of the present invention utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of the present invention that are described and embodiments of the present invention comprising different combinations of features noted in the described embodiments will occur to persons of the art.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly of shingles comprising: a plurality of side-by-side shingles; one or more connectors between each pair of shingles; the shingles and connectors forming a semi-rigid panel, wherein the shingles are aligned when the panel is installed on a flat surface.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles such that the installed assembly functions as a conventional individual shingle installation.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connectors allow the shingles to expand and contract, and wherein the shingles and connectors of the semi-rigid panel remain connected to each other throughout handling and installation, and wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles such that the installed assembly functions as a conventional individual shingle installation.
 4. An assembly of shingles comprising: a plurality of side-by-side shingles; one or more connectors between each pair of shingles, the shingles and connectors forming a semi-rigid panel; an alignment gauge on the front face of the panel, wherein the shingles and connectors of the semi-rigid panel remain connected to each other throughout handling and installation, and wherein the shingles are aligned when the panel is installed on a flat surface, and wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles such that the installed assembly functions as a conventional individual shingle installation, and wherein the shingles within the panel and the alignment gauge being configured in such a manner that a second row of adjacent panels being placed on top of and overlapping a first row of adjacent panels and offset laterally such that a mark or edge of the panels in the second row aligns with a mark or edge of panels in the first row, the keyways of the second row are offset from the keyways in the first row.
 5. An assembly of shingles comprising: a plurality of side-by-side shingles; one or more connectors between each pair of shingles, the shingles and connectors forming a semi-rigid panel; an alignment gauge on the front face of the panel, wherein the connectors allow the shingles to expand and contract, and wherein the shingles and connectors of the semi-rigid panel remain connected to each other throughout handling and installation, and wherein the shingles are aligned when the panel is installed on a flat surface, and wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles such that the installed assembly functions as a conventional individual shingle installation, and wherein the shingles within the panel and the alignment gauge being configured in such a manner that a second row of adjacent panels being placed on top of and overlapping a first row of adjacent panels and offset laterally such that a mark or edge of the panels in the second row aligns with a mark or edge of panels in the first row, the keyways of the second row are offset from the keyways in the first row, and wherein the shingles within the panel and the alignment gauge being configured in such a manner that a third row of adjacent panels being placed on top of and overlapping the second row of adjacent panels and offset laterally such that a mark or edge of the panels in the third row aligns with a mark or edge of panels in the second row, the keyways of the third row are offset from the keyways in the second and first rows.
 6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width.
 7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width.
 8. The assembly of claim 4, wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width, and wherein the keyways of the second panel are offset laterally at least one and one half inches from the keyways of the first panel.
 9. The assembly of claim 5, wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width, and wherein the keyways of the second panel are offset laterally at least one and one half inches from the keyways of the first panel.
 10. A ventilation space for cedar shingle installations comprising: a multitude of ridges or beads or other spacers installed on the back of the shingles; the ridges or beads or other spacers providing a gap between overlapping layers of shingles and between the shingle installation and the substrate, wherein the gap provides a capillary break between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the capillary break preventing the accumulation and entrapment of moisture, and wherein the gap provides an airspace between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the airspace enabling airflow that provides faster and more even drying.
 11. The ventilation space of claim 10, wherein the spacers are comprised of ridges or beads that are parallel to the side edges of the shakes or shingles.
 12. The ventilation space of claim 10, wherein the spacers are comprised of ridges or beads that are parallel to the side edges of the shakes or shingles, and wherein the ridges or beads are positioned such that they block moisture from moving laterally between shingle layers into underlying keyway joints.
 13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a ventilation space comprising: a multitude of ridges or beads or other spacers installed on the back of the shingles; the ridges or beads or other spacers providing a gap between overlapping layers of shingles and between the shingle installation and the substrate, wherein the gap provides a capillary break between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the capillary break preventing the accumulation and entrapment of moisture, and wherein the gap provides an airspace between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the airspace enabling airflow that provides faster and more even drying.
 14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly includes a ventilation space comprising: a multitude of ridges or beads installed on the back of the shingles; the ridges or beads or providing a gap between overlapping layers of shingles and between the shingle installation and the substrate, wherein the gap provides a capillary break between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the capillary break preventing the accumulation and entrapment of moisture, and wherein the gap provides an airspace between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the airspace enabling airflow that provides faster and more even drying, and wherein the ridges or beads are parallel to the side edges of the shakes or shingles and positioned such that they block moisture from moving laterally between shingle layers into underlying keyway joints.
 15. The assembly of claim 4, wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width, and wherein the assembly includes a ventilation space comprising: a multitude of ridges or beads installed on the back of the shingles; the ridges or beads or providing a gap between overlapping layers of shingles and between the shingle installation and the substrate, wherein the gap provides a capillary break between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the capillary break preventing the accumulation and entrapment of moisture, and wherein the gap provides an airspace between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the airspace enabling airflow that provides faster and more even drying, and wherein the ridges or beads are parallel to the side edges of the shakes or shingles and positioned such that they block moisture from moving laterally between shingle layers into underlying keyway joints.
 16. A connector for connecting side-by-side shingles to each other; the shingles and connectors forming a panel, wherein the structural integrity of the panel is such that the panel will not break or deform when subjected to normal handling, and wherein the shingles are aligned when the panel is installed on a flat surface, and wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles and allow the shingles to expand and contract normally such that the installed assembly functions as a proper conventional individual shingle installation.
 17. A clip for connecting side-by-side shingles to each other, the clip comprising: plates that overlaps the front and back of both shingles; tabs that extend from the outer edge of the plates into slots in the shingles; the plates overlapping each shingle connected to each other in a manner such that a spring tension forces the tabs of the clip into the shingle slots when the clip is installed, wherein the spring tension of the clip is such that the tabs will remain in the shingle slots as the shingles expand and contract normally, and wherein the spring tension of the clip is such that the tabs will remain in the shingle slots when a plurality of connected shingles are bowed in a manner that would be typical during handling and installation, and wherein the installed clips are substantially contained within the plane of the connected shingles such that a plurality of connected shingles functions as a conventional individual shingle installation.
 18. The clip of claim 17, wherein the clip provides a consistent keyway space between each pair of connected shingles. 